Eye problem....need advice
Submitted by lola07 on January 1, 2011 - 12:12pmMy Louie (4yr) started with what I thought was an eye infetion a few days ago. Took him to vet and I was surprised to hear what vet said to possibly solve the issue. Vet said that the eye problem was due to his lower eyelid rolling back and his eyelashes sratching his eye. I have heard of this in bulldogs before. Anyway, he said it was caused by the wrinkles under his eyes, around his nose that were either pulling or pushing up on the eye causing it to tuck under (not sure of his exact words). Anyway, he said if it continues we might have to have surgery to correct it. I have also heard of having surgery for it, but he was talking about having surgery to remove the entire wrinkle or fold under his eye...said breeders breed them with more wrinkles which causes this problem. Basically, like a cosmetic surgery with many stitches to eleveiate the problem with the eye. I have heard of a few stitches under the eye making a tuck to pull the eyelid back, but not removing an entire fold. Has anyone ever heard of this? I almost fell on the floor when he said this, I can't imagine removing one of his preious folds that make him look like a bulldog...but if it is for his own good, I will do what is best. Any advice, please post.
It isn't always caused by wrinkles!
Distichia is what the problem is called. Sophie gets it when her allergies are acting up or she has a flea on her! Check to see if there is possibly an allergic reaction to something going on first before you have the surgery. And no, I haven't heard of removing the wrinkle, but I also haven't ever had to have Distichia surgically repaired. I have always controlled Sophies' by keeping her allergy/flea free.
Amy and Sophia
Thanks
I agree that it is not always caused by wrinkles. How come all the sudden it is happening...I think he had maybe an eye infetion which is causing it to occur now b/c after one day of eye medicine perscribed by doc. it is already looking better. I will wait and see. Thanks for your response.
Infection
probably caused the lid around the eye to be a little puffy and when that happens it will roll more. I bet he will be just fine after the eye infection clears.
I clear sign of Entropian is alot of eye blinking and squinting. If they aren't doing those 2 things then you should be fine.
Actually it is Entropian .... Not Distichiasis
Entropian is where the eye lid rolls inward and the hair on the outside of the lid rubs against the eye. Distichiasis is where the eyelashes grow inward inside the eyelid and rub on the eye. 2 completely different conditions.
Entropian surgery is common (unfortunately) for dogs that are considered overdone. What overdone means is dog has heavy heavy wrinkles that are sloppy and saggy which is not correct head type. Unfortunately people like the fat very wrinkly babies. I would never ever have a wrinkle or nose rope removed. IMO it is simply ridicoulous of a vet to even suggest this and I would find a new vet who understands and appreciates the breed for all of the wonderful qualities that the breed offers (as they are).
Entropian surgery is kind of like a facelift or eye tuck. They make a cut on the outside of the lower or upper lid and remove some of the tissue then suture. They need to be good at this type of surgery so they don't take too much skin and pull the lid too tight.
Distichiasis is usually corrected with laser and they laser each eyelash that is growing inward. Sometimes they will have to laser serveral times if there are alot of lashes.
You can google both and also go to the home page for additional information on both.
Amy is right that at times if a dog has allergy issues and causing the eyelid to be puffy then that can cause problems with the lids rolling in. What you have to do is determine when the problem is not allergy related and requires corrective surgery. Both conditions can be painful and if the dog is squinting and blinking then something needs to be done. Both condidtions can also cause an eye ulcer which of course will require immediate vet care and surgery.
My Cleo had to have entropian surgery on 1 lower eye lid. She has slight dry eye and some allergies which we were able to control for a year avoiding surgery...but after a year she got an eye ulcer and it made the surgery necessary to correct that one eye lid. The other eye is fine as long as her allergies don't cause her any puffiness. With her a Benedryl every other day and eye lub for her dry eye keeps it under control. She by the way has a large nose rope.
Thanks so much for all your advice...I agree that I need to see
a new vet..having a hard time finding one in my area that really specializes in bulldogs. I would never remove his folds and like I originally said, almost fell over when he even mentioned it. I knew something did not sound right. I really think he has a simiple eye infection or allergy b/c after 1 day on eye oinment, his eyes look 100% better. I think they were just puffy underneath which caused them to roll in and cause irritation. I am watching him very carefully and will seek the appropriate care from an special doctor if problems continue. We adopted him as a resuce only 4 months ago and I am so attached to him and he to me, that I an't imagine him having surgery for this.....would break my heart. My kids are grown and now I feel like I have a baby again...my kids call me crazy for my obsession with Louie. Thanks again for your support!
You are right...I understood them to say the eyelashes
Were causing the problem. Sophie has problems with both, but it is always caused by allergies..
Amy and Sophia
I would take him to an Ophthamologist
For an eye issue like this. I agree that the nose rope is probably fine but, you don't want the lashes to rub the eye. Besides being uncomfortable, it can cause ulcers which are very painful.
My Tucker has distichia in
My Tucker has distichia in both eyes and is having it corrected through cryoepilation (basically freezing them off). He currently has double cherry eye too, so the he is having everything done all at once next week. My advice is to see a veterinary opthamalogist for your baby's eye issues. We have a vet that we trust implicitly and have taken our dogs to her for years. But when it came to our bullies' eye problems, she referred us to the opthamalogist and we've been happy with the results we've had going that route.
My other bully, Zoey has had entropion and distichia in one of her eyes, and we corrected those a few years back. The entropion surgery didn't remove her rolls/wrinkles, they just did a little tuck on the corner of her eye. I can't see it and don't even notice anything different about her (facial feature-wise) before and after the surgery. But she has been alot happier since then!
If he does have distichia, I do hope you will be able to fix it soon as it is very uncomfortable for them...